[PC] Mass Effect 3 Won't Launch

@mofusion 

There is no ME3 error report in your DxDiag.

Did you also moved the "Save" folder? (Documents/Bioware/Mass effect 3)

Go to your Reliability monitor > Press the Windows key and "R" at the same time and copy and paste or type "perfmon /rel" (without the quotes) in the new Window > hit “ENTER” and look if it has entries for the "MassEffect3.exe" or new entries for the "Origin.exe".

If yes double click at the last entry for the game executable, copy the info to the clipboard, and save it to a text file.

@holger1405 

I did not move the save folder because its empty, there are no saves because the game never ran, i just installed it today.

Reliability monitor does have two entry's for Origin, i believe it was due to me killing the task in task manager to make sure origin is fully closed.

I put both in the text file, it is in german but i assume you are too, if anyone else wants to help and need a translation i can provide that. I could not see what the problem was besides that origin was not responding.

One thing i noticed after reinstalling origin was that it verified all game data of all games and at mass effect 3 redownloaded one of the DLCs.

Thank you for your help, i really dont know what else to do at this point.

@mofusion 

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mofusion wrote:

I put both in the text file, it is in german but i assume you are too,

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And you assume right. 🙂

There is also no "Local_Profile.sav" file in the save folder?

You deleted the entire "Mass Effect 3" game folder before reinstalling?

Please clear your temp files:

• Press the Windows key and "R" at the same time
• Into the new window, type or copy & paste:  "%temp%"   (Without the quotes.) > hit "ENTER"
• Now your Windows Explorer should have brought you to the "C:\Users\>your user name<\AppData\Local\Temp" folder. > Delete all files and folders in it.
  (If some files or folders can't be deleted, reboot and try again.)

Then clear your Origin cache.
All settings in Origin (only in Origin not in the games) are back to default settings after this.

• Close Origin completely.
  (right click on the Origin symbol in the task bar > close)
• Press the Windows key and "R" at the same time.
• Type or copy and paste "%ProgramData%/Origin" (without quotes) into the new window > hit ENTER
• Delete all the files and folders in the Origin folder, except for the "LocalContent" folder.
  (The "LocalContent" folder must remain untouched.)
• Delete the "Mass Effect 3" folder inside the "LocalContent" folder.
• Press the Windows key and "R" at the same time.
• Type or copy and paste "%AppData%" (without quotes) into the new window > hit ENTER
• Now your Windows explorer should have brought you to your "C:\Users\>your user name<\AppData\Roaming" folder.
• Delete the "Origin"  folder inside the "Roaming" folder.
• In the address bar of your Windows explorer click on "AppData".
• Open the "Local" folder.
• Delete the "Origin"  folder inside the  "Local" folder.
• Press the Windows key and "R" at the same time.
• Type or copy and paste "C:\ProgramData\Electronic Arts\EA Services" (without quotes) into the new window > hit ENTER.
• Move the "License" folder to your Desktop > Test.
• Restart your PC. > Test

@holger1405 no local_profile.sav file the folder is completely empty, and yes i deleted the full folder after deinstalling it with origin

I deleted temp and origin cache and moved license again, after doing so and booting origin it verified all games again and downloaded some dlcs in multiple games again.

Testing mass effect 3 didnt work.

After the reboot of windows, origin verified some games and dlc again, even though it already did before the restart. For mass effect 3 it reverified reckoning and the N7 collectors content.

But all that still did not help, starting mass effect 3 still just refreshes origin.

What i noticed is that in the license folder all licenses are named like the games, except mass effect 3, this license is just called "71073"

And again does origin think i am already playing mass effect 3 in my profile.

EDIT: Another thing i noticed is that Mass effect 2 had 2 exe, MassEffect2.exe and ME2Game.exe and Origin uses ME2Game.exe. Mass Effect 3 only has MassEffect3.exe. The binaries folder is also quite empty compared to mass effect 2. Mass effect 2 has many dlls in there while 3 only has 3

@mofusion 

The ME3 file structure is normal.

Look at this post and follow the instructions please.

(This is my personal OneDrive.)

@holger1405 I replaced the dll files but the same issue appears, i then repaired mass effect 3 with origin, same thing.

I also tried windows 7 and XP compatibility modes with run as admin, that did not work either.

Everything that worked for others doesnt seem to work for me, i dont know whats happening.

@mofusion 

Please preform a clean boot and test the Game in clean boot mode.

Make sure your virus scanner and other security software and also Afterburner and similar software is disabled.

Make also sure that your GPU & CPU are not overclocked.

@holger1405  I performed clean boot, then killed 2 tasks in task manager that boot anyway and tried multiple things in this clean boot such as moving license, compatibility mode, run as admin...

Origin showed the exact same behavior.

Antivirus i use Windows Defender which cannot be fully disabled, but the modules can be paused which i did. My GPU is overclocked in factory, i cannot not overclock it but it does change the performance output given to the current need so stays low here.

With the game reinstalled, origin reinstalled, no other programs interfering, dlls replaced and license renewed what else could influence the startup, or not startup, of mass effect 3? I am really clueless.

@mofusion 

OK, lets try this:

Create a new Windows user account  (Administrator) don't use local special characters, use only characters from the ASCII table

• Reboot > Log in to the new user account.
• Test.

@holger1405 Your link is dead, i think this is the right one https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/create-a-local-user-or-administrator-account-in-windows-10-20de74e0-ac7f-3502-a866-32915af2a34d

I didn't need it tho, i created a new admin account, just called it "Admin" and tested it there, both with origin and over the .exe with run as admin. Sadly same results, origin just refreshes ☹️.

It cant be the game itself, i installed it many times and if its a general issue others would have it, it has to be a problem with my computer/Windows, but i have no idea what.

@mofusion 

Thanks for the heads up about the link. 👍

look at this guide. to preform a clean uninstall of Origin.

• Scroll down to "How to uninstall the Origin client the hard way"
• Follow the instructions to the letter. 
• reboot.
• Download this version of the "OriginSetup.exe"
• Run the installer as Administrator (Right click the "OriginSetup.exe" > Run as an Administrator) > Run Origin as Administrator > Test.

@holger1405 I allready tried the reinstalling the hard way as you mentioned in post #6, i just used the origin setup from origin website because your link in post #6 was dead. Is there a significant difference?

@mofusion 

It is the full installer, so no additional data need to be downloaded.

@holger1405 

When i click that link nothing happens, if i open it in a new tab the tab closes immediately

@holger1405 in another browser the download worked, strange is though that the registry files are not there. Yes i deleted them the last time i reinstalled origin, but shouldnt origin add them again? all the mentioned origin registry entries are not there. I reinstalled using the full exe and it still doesnt work, the registry keys arent back either. Something really feels off here

@mofusion 

On what drive is Origin installed?

On what drive is the game installed?

• Hit Windows key and X.
• Choose either “PowerShell (Administrator)” or “Command prompt (Administrator),” whichever option is offered.
• Inside the PowerShell or CMD, enter “DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Checkhealth” without quotes. > ENTER.
• If errors are found, notify us. If no errors were found reaped steps 1 & 2.
• Inside the PowerShell or CMD, enter “DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth” without quotes. > ENTER.
• The system will start validating soon. If it throws an error, please list it here.
• After it reaches 100%, hit Windows key and X again.
• Again, choose “PowerShell (Administrator)” or “Command Prompt (Administrator)”
• Inside the PowerShell or CMD, enter “sfc /scannow” without quotes. >ENTER.
• Post the message you receive at the end of the processes here.

@holger1405 both DISM report no issues, sfc reports "Der Windows-Ressourcenschutz hat beschädigte Dateien gefunden und erfolgreich repariert.
Bei Onlinereparaturen finden Sie Details in der CBS-Protokolldatei unter
windir\Logs\CBS\CBS.log. Beispiel C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log. Bei Offlinereparaturen
finden Sie Details in der durch das /OFFLOGFILE-Kennzeichen angegebenen Protokolldatei." I attach the mentioned log.

Origin is on my C drive, Mass effect (and other origin games) are on my H drive, since i reserve my C drive for small or important applications, there is no space for games.

@mofusion 

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mofusion wrote:

since i reserve my C drive for small or important applications, there is no space for games.

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There is not much space at all, you should keep at last 20 GB free or you might get problems with the next feature update.

You disabled the compatibility settings for ME3 after it was not working? If not please do so.

There are no compatibility settings for Origin?

Restart your PC this way:

• Press the Windows key and "R" at the same time.
• Type or copy and past shutdown -g -f -t 0 into the new Window.
• Hit ENTER.

Clear your Origin cache. (Again if you already did)
All settings in Origin (only in Origin not in the games) are back to default settings after this.

• Close Origin completely.
  (right click on the Origin symbol in the task bar > close)
• Press the Windows key and "R" at the same time.
• Type or copy and paste "%ProgramData%/Origin" (without quotes) into the new window > hit ENTER
• Delete all the files and folders in the Origin folder, except for the "LocalContent" folder.
  (The "LocalContent" folder must remain untouched.)
• Delete the "Mass Effect XX" folder inside the "LocalContent" folder.
• Press the Windows key and "R" at the same time.
• Type or copy and paste "%AppData%" (without quotes) into the new window > hit ENTER
• Now your Windows explorer should have brought you to your "C:\Users\>your user name<\AppData\Roaming" folder.
• Delete the "Origin"  folder inside the "Roaming" folder.
• In the address bar of your Windows explorer click on "AppData".
• Open the "Local" folder.
• Delete the "Origin"  folder inside the  "Local" folder.
• Press the Windows key and "R" at the same time.
• Type or copy and paste "C:\ProgramData\Electronic Arts\EA Services" (without quotes) into the new window > hit ENTER.
• Move the "License" folder to your Desktop > Test.
• Restart your PC > Run Origin as Administrator.
• Repair the game again > Test.

@holger1405 I only tested the compatibility, i disabled it afterwards. Never tried with origin.

Did the restart, reset Origin cache again, Repaired ME3 (as admin) and tried again, still the origin refresh, only with the difference that it took more time until origin came back.

Do you know why the registry keys dont reappear?

@mofusion 

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mofusion wrote:

Do you know why the registry keys dont reappear?

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Not with certainty, no.

Other Origin games still work?

@holger1405 

Yep, after all this ME1 and 2 still work perfectly fine, without needing admin or anything.

@mofusion 

• Uninstall the "Microsoft Visual c++ 2008 Redistributable - x64 9.0.30729.17" (only this specific one in case you have several Vc++ 2008 installations) from the Windows control panel.
• Reboot.
• Go to your ">drive<:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\Mass Effect 3\__Installer\vc\vc2008sp1\redist" folder.
• Run the "vcredist_x64.exe" as Administrator. (Right click the exe > Run as Administrator)
• Reboot > Test.
  
  
  If that don't helps:
• Go to your ">drive<:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\Mass Effect 3\__Installer\directx\redist" folder.
  
• Delete all files with the *.cab file extension. (Only the files with the *.cab file extension.)
• Run the "DXSETUP.exe" from the same folder as Administrator. (Right click the exe > Run as Administrator)
• Reboot.
• Test.

@holger1405 reinstalled that version of vcredist, nothing changed, then i refreshed the directx files as you described and origin loaded the game for longer than before, but still came back to origin, not the game. Im thinking of contacting the support because i paid for a product that doesnt work, but i dont think they could do more than you already tried sadly :/

@mofusion 

I don't know if support would offer you a refund in this case. 

Please go to your "C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\Mass Effect 3\Binaries\"  folder. (Or wherever you game fodder is.)

Start the "MassEffect3Config.exe" > Go to the "Graphics Tap.

Change "Windowed" from "Standard" to "Windowed".

Change "Window Mode" from "Borderless" to "Window"

Click on "Mass Effect 3" in the top bar > Save settings > Test.

If that don't works you might try other configurations.

Also, in post #52 you said you preformed a game repair after you inserted the files I linked.

That would purge the files that I linked because they are not standard. Please make sure this files are added again.

@holger1405 The repair was after i tested them to test something else, but i added the files again. I Set to Windowed, also tried both 4:3 and 16:9 and checked if the tool has all my system information right, it did not recognize my audio interface at first, i changed that. But The game still doesn't launch, just origin disappears and reappears.

Also Origin tends to recheck and repair all my games after a system restart, how do i prevent that?